Senior Communications Business Partnering Manager

We are looking for a senior communications business partner, who will be part of our strategic communications team within our Scottish communications directorate. This new role will be responsible for supporting our engineering and asset management, property and strategy teams and supporting them to showcase the importance of our rail infrastructure both now and in the future.
In this hugely varied role, you will develop communications and engagement strategies that support projects ranging from the redevelopment of Glasgow Central Station through to the management of some of Scotland’s most iconic structures; the Forth Bridge and the Glenfinnan Viaduct. And you will have the opportunity to work with some amazing people too!
This role will involve out-of-hours and on-call working, will be based in Scotland and will involve regular travel around the country. We operate hybrid and flexible working, with a minimum of two days required on one of our sites each week.
This role reports to Head of Strategic Communications.

About the role (External)

Here are some of the duties your role will include: -
• Develop, drive and implement communications plans, working collaboratively as a business partner, to include content, campaigns and key channels, in order to support the delivery of business objectives and drive performance.
• Establish and maintain strong and trusting relationships with key stakeholders, working collaboratively in order to support the identification, development and delivery their internal and external communications goals.
• Manage announcements, briefings and events for the function, including monitoring comments and preparing suitable responses to enhance employee engagement, support culture change and ultimately improve performance
• Manage the processes, quality standards and operational systems so that functional communications can be run effectively.
• Develop content and materials as appropriate to promote business critical initiatives from the function for national audiences and monitor the effectiveness of communications, taking corrective action where necessary, proactively highlight any significant issues and use to drive improvements.
• Coach, advise and challenge senior leaders in understanding the impact of their communications and how they contribute to the achievement of functional objectives.
• Lead, support and contribute to change programmes, acting as a change agent, driving and championing the implementation of communications solutions within the supported business area, gaining acceptance from key stakeholders.
• Liaise with Communications Business Partners in other areas of the business in order to work collaboratively on cross business/geographical communications and issues.
• Build productive two-way relationships with external comms and external engagement teams to keep them informed of relevant issues as well as identify, and access their expertise when required.
• Implement the major incident communications plan as required.
What you will bring to the role: -

Are you passionate about engineering? Could you tell the story about how we connect communities and provide essential transport services? Can you build communications and engagement strategies that showcase rail as essential to Scotland’s transport infrastructure?, • Educated to degree level or a professional communications qualification (eg IoIC, CIPR, PRCA) or demonstrable equivalent experience
• Excellent written and spoken communications skills
• Customer service mindset and demonstrable collaborative approach
• Evidence of having managed internal communications in a large organisation, including developing and delivering multi-disciplinary communication programmes
• Experience of working in partnership with senior leaders, coaching and influencing them to deliver effective messaging
• Proven ability to grasp, understand and promote complex and sensitive issues in a persuasive and sensible way
• Knowledge and understanding new and innovative best practice communications to drive engagement and shape culture
• Ability to shape and deliver key messages to various audiences and their individual needs
• Experience of managing a team
• Proven track record of operating in a complex working environment and managing ambiguity
It’s desirable if you have it to help give you context to the role: -
• Office 365 experience
• Video editing experience
• Understanding of project management principles and experience of managing complex projects to successful conclusion.
• Experience of working within a unionised environment and/or regulated sector., Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do. Safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should demonstrate your personal dedication to safety on your application.

At Network Rail, our passengers and freight users are at the heart of everything we do. We help connect people to their friends and families and get goods to their destination safely and efficiently. We’re an organisation where people matter. Watch our video to find out more!
Scotland's Railway is part of this large family, and it covers a large geographical area from the Borders to Thurso at the far tip of the North East of Scotland, accounting for almost 20 per cent of the UK rail network. We provide rapid access along busy commuter routes to our seven cities, servicing the varied needs of our business and leisure commuter services, including cross border services and rural services. We have up to 50 freight services operating every day and we are steadily building capacity for this to grow. Our ambition to be responsive to passengers and freight users, drives us every day and we're empowered to do the right thing for those who use the rail network. We actively challenge unsafe practices and take responsibility for addressing risks, resolving issues and protecting safety and wellbeing.
Our colleagues are encouraged to work flexibly as we know that busy lives don’t always fit around a traditional working pattern, if you need flexibility to complete your role just let us know and we will do our upmost to help you to invest in your career with us while balancing other aspects of your life.